Sony MDR-Z1R
FOR Excellent detail resolution; even tonal balance; scale; build AGAINST They demand quality electronics
Sony turns 70 this year, and celebrates that landmark with a range of Signature products: two portable music players, a desktop DAC and the MDR-Z1R headphones on test here. All the products carry premium four-figure price tags and are meant to showcase the company’s expertise.
In the case of the MDR-Z1R, £1700 buys a pair of large, understated closed-back headphones. As is Sony’s way, there’s little design exuberance. If you’re expecting overtly luxurious touches or extravagant styling for your money, these aren’t the cans for you.
What do you get is obsessive attention to detail. The MDR-Z1RS use a relatively large and unusual dynamic driver. This unit has a two-piece 70mm diaphragm made up of a magnesium dome sitting in the middle of an aluminium-coated liquid-crystal polymer ring – try saying that after a few beers. The result is an impressive claimed frequency response that extends to 120khz.
The size of the driver was chosen to provide the sonic authority only a larger driver can bring, and deliver the dispersion characteristics Sony wanted. Its motor system uses a Neodymium magnet, which has plenty of output and gives a useful sensitivity of 100db/mw.
Science meets art
We don’t often write about grilles, as there’s not usually much to say. In this case, however, we’ll make an exception as those in front of the drive unit on the MDR-Z1R almost qualify as art. The engineers looked at the way traditional grille designs affect the sound and decided to try something different. They ended up with a pattern based on the Fibonacci sequence. They found this caused the least high-frequency disruption, and have graphs to prove it.
While these are closed-back ’phones, there’s a twist here too. Sony has used traditional Japanese paper techniques to make a backing of Canadian softwood and just the right kind of water (yes, you read correctly) to come up with an absorbent, low-resonance enclosure.
The outside of the enclosure is protected by a contoured stainless steel wire gauze coated with a chromium compound, said to be highly resistant to scratches or marking. We’ve used our review sample heavily for a number of months and it still looks as good as new.
Big and cosy
Comfort is vital in a pair of headphones and Sony hasn’t taken any shortcuts here. A word of warning, though – these are big headphones, and while there’s plenty of adjustment they may still feel a touch loose on the smallest of heads.
They’re not unduly heavy at 385g, and the wide, nicely padded headband sits comfortably, as do the well cushioned earpads. Both headband and earpads are covered with soft, high-quality leather, which feels good to the touch. As with almost every closed-back design we’ve tried, though, our ears do warm up over extended listening sessions.
There’s a choice of connecting cables – a standard 3.5mm version (plus a 6.3mm adaptor) and a new balanced option using a 4.4mm jack.
While these Sonys will work off a phone it pays to use better-quality sources. We mainly use our Naim NDS/555PS streamer, Clearaudio’s Innovation Wood turntable and a Macbook Air (loaded with Pure Music software and plenty of hi-res music). Chord’s excellent Hugo carries out amplification duties, but we draft in Sony’s partnering TA-ZH1ES desktop DAC to test the Z1R in balanced mode.
The first thing we notice is the Sony’s seismic bass performance. It’s not massively overstated as is the current fashion, but impresses through a combination of power, authority and agility that few rivals match. Having a closed-back design also keeps surrounding noise low. It means you can listen to music with someone else in the room and neither of you gets disturbed.
We try a range of music from Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar OST through to The E.N.D from Black Eyed Peas. These cans take it all in their stride. Interstellar shows off the Sony’s scale and dynamic reach, and we’re impressed by the composure and organisation during the demanding peaks of Mountains. There’s no sign of stress or a hint of hardening up, even at high volume.
Tonally, things are nicely balanced between the powerful low-end and crisp treble. While open-back designs such as those from Beyerdynamic and Grado will invariably sound more spacious, by closed-back standards these Sonys are impressively open and articulate.
The fun factor
Listening to the Black Eyed Peas’ Boom Boom Pow shows that these headphones know how to have fun. They deliver the track’s pounding, richly textured bassline with enthusiasm, without skimping on detail resolution.
The midrange is as impressive as the frequency extremes, with the headphones delivering the group’s distinctive vocals with fluidity, conviction and, when required, subtlety.
Sony hasn’t been shy about charging a premium price for these headphones. Thankfully, the MDR-Z1RS justify such an expense. If you want a closed-back headphone, and are willing to feed these Sonys with capable electronics, we don’t think we’ve tested a better alternative.
“The midrange is as impressive as the frequency extremes, with the headphones delivering the vocals with fluidity, conviction and subtlety”